KOTA KINABALU: A fishing vessel which was operating too close to shore, hence breaching maritime regulations, has been seized, along with its almost one-tonne catch.
The captain with five crew members, all Indonesians, were also arrested, said Sabah Maritime director First Admiral Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali.
He said a patrol team saw a tug boat less than three nautical miles from Tanjung Tembungo on Monday.
“Our personnel went to investigate and found that they were fishing just about a nautical mile from the shore, which is illegal,” he said.
Khairulanuar said the suspects were arrested while the vessel and the catch worth RM45,000 were confiscated for further investigations under the Fisheries Act 1985.
He said fishing too close to shore would not only disrupt the livelihood of local fishermen but also threaten the marine ecosystem as vessels could destroy corals and the seabed.
He said the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency will double patrols and boost operations to fight crime at sea.
